Italian teen Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be part of George Russell as a driver on the Mercedes-Benz AMG Method 1 group in 2025.

Already broadly rumored within the prior month, Mercedes formally introduced the choice this week.

Antonelli, 18, fills the seat of seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton who joins Ferrari subsequent 12 months. Hamilton received six of his titles with Mercedes however the group’s poor efficiency in recent times prompted him to alter squads.

Hamilton will fill the seat of Carlos Sainz at Ferrari. Though there was early speak of Sainz probably becoming a member of Mercedes, and even Sauber which turns into Audi in 2026, the Spanish driver in July confirmed he’ll drive with Williams because the substitute for U.S. driver Logan Sargeant.

Antonelli was a participant in Mercedes’ driver improvement program and delivered a number of successes in ADAC and Italian F4 championships in 2022, in addition to within the extremely aggressive Method Regional European championship in 2023. He is additionally had some wins in F2 this 12 months.

Mercedes stated the younger driver has proven spectacular pace, together with throughout a stint at a apply session for final weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, his first time taking part in an F1 weekend. Nevertheless he crashed shortly after the beginning of the session.

Antonelli will not be the one new driver on the grid subsequent 12 months. Australian Jack Doohan joins Williams and Brit Oliver Bearman joins Haas.

Sauber and RB every have an empty seat remaining.